Calhouns Can(n)ons

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Look, Mommy, Interesting Dots . . .

So, let’s add another weird dot: A regulatory agency declares an “emergency” in the town’s drinking water, high nitrates that will create “blue babies” and sick people, nitrate levels that violate the law and the highest emergency measure -- a building moratorium – is declared. AFTER which over 1,000 new septic permits are issued and signed off by the very regulatory agency that called the “emergency” in the first place and to this day nobody can ‘splain how having “too much” of something is fixed by adding MORE of the same something. Ah, just another one of those mysteries to be found in . . . Chinatown. . .

Los Osos is …“Chinatown”
Asked to reveal the deep, dark secret behind the long-running and strange goings-on inside the Los Osos sewer saga, a few owls in Los Osos have been known to whisper “Chinatown.” Now, “Chinatown” screenwriter Robert Towne sheds light on more than a few historical points in common between LA of the early 1930s and Los Osos today, starting with the water, who owns it, how much it’s really worth – and land grabs. Los Ososans should read Towne’s comments and then see how many chilling similarities they can come up with ...
Read more ... on The Rock at http://rockofthecoast.com

9 comments:

Watershed Mark said...: Noah Cross: You may think you know what you're dealing with, but, believe me, you don't.
[Gittes grins]
Noah Cross: Why is that funny?
Jake Gittes: That's what the District Attorney used to tell me in Chinatown.

Why wasn't and isn't vacuum collection being studied?

It doesn't leak and it costs less.

Jake Gittes: How do you like them apples?; 7:59 AM, May 26, 2009
Watershed Mark said...: Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming adversity.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Date of Birth:
August 28, 1749
Date of Death:
March 22, 1832
Nationality:
German; 8:08 AM, May 26, 2009
Alon Perlman said...: As one of the original "Owls" who starting in 2005, brought out the similarities between the movie "Chinatown" and the Los Osos Predicament, I'm happy to see the article including the additional information about the Book, the screenplay and the Cadilac dessert interview.

I'm concerned however that the introduction may mislead and dissapoint some readers
"Now, “Chinatown” screenwriter Robert Towne sheds light on more than a few historical points in common between LA of the early 1930s and Los Osos today"I think the comparison is always timely but-
The interview took place in 1996.
I have found the rock a valid expression, though I don't always agree with it. Now more than ever Los Osos needs a responsible independant voice (in addition to Ann's steadfast contributions). We have seen a rise of Sewer dilitantisem, in the last few years. Are you leaders or followers?; 3:18 PM, May 27, 2009
Ed said...: Alon,

We'll take out the word "Now" so not to confuse readers.

The Rock has no ambitions beyond good writing and good reading. It's true we are an independent voice, but then again we've had to be independent since we don't play "sides" very well.

That you would have such high expectations of The Rock is a compliment, and I wish we could provide what Los Osos needs, but we are just a wind-blown outpost on the frozen frontier flashing a constant S.O.S. -- and that's probably all we'll ever be, given our marketing budget ($000.00).

I don't think discovering "Cadillac Ranch" on DVD years later and using the word "now" makes me a sewer dilettante. I'm a student, not a dabbler. However I'm honored that you would hold me to such a high standard. By the way I would highly recommend the DVD to anybody interested in LA/SoCal water history. It's very deep and compelling watching and great educational entertainment.

As far as whether we are leaders or followers, I believe we answered that question long ago.

As for leaders and followers, based on Los Osos' vast experience with failed leadership, I'll stick with Dylan's advice: "Don't follow leaders, watch the parking meters."

Ed; 5:56 PM, May 27, 2009
Alon Perlman said...: Yep Ed, the vandals took the handle

Pawkin meter?Thank you.
You won't dissappoint me no matter what you do, in other words , your legacy is secure with me at least.
And not just because I don't beleive that false in part is "absolutely" false in all.

I'm afraid we we will have to continue to disagree on a previous post, because I have it on good authority that on 4/28 after Supervisor Gibson asked if there was additional Los Osos comment, there were no hands raised, honorable or otherwise.

Having spoken before several government agecies chaired by individuals who wanted to close public comment, and having successfully completed my comments by prevailing argument, I will posit that if a person had raised their hand and were not seen, or deliberately ignored by a supervisor, the wise thing to do would be to explain, that "they had their hand raised earlier and were intending to speak about LO" the audience would then chime in, and it is likely that the person would had received the 3 minutes that they were "entitled" to.

Word verification; jeessess; 7:00 PM, May 27, 2009
Aaron Ochs - Managing Editor of The ROCK said...: Alon,

I cannot, in good conscience, trust your "good authority."

Goldin and two other sources attested to her raising her hand, but as time passes, the issues becomes less relevant, but the bigger picture still is.

Even if she didn't raise her hand, if someone wants to speak on Los Osos and there's two minutes left to speak on that issue, they should be allowed.

The infringement of the fundamental right to speak isn't the 10-minute rule per se because Gibson is still allowing people to speak. The infringement occurred when Gibson said that people could no longer comment on Los Osos despite the fact that there was two minutes left on the clock.

Essentially, he violated his own rule, which was pursuant to Section III.B of the Rules of Procedure.

Now, if he did not make that special rule of adding 20 minutes in total (morning and afternoon) for Los Osos public comment, then Goldin couldn't speak on the Los Osos issue. Without the special rule, the 15 minutes in III.B would be split in half at 7 1/2 minutes in the morning and 7 1/2 in the afternoon. When tallying up all the people who spoke that day and the amount of time they spoke, she couldn't have spoken on LO. In that case, your argument would be sound.

I like how Sarah Christie of the Planning Commission set up public comment. She would ask people to set up a stack of comments with the designated speaker's slip on top of the stack. For Los Osos public comment, Gibson could easily ask people to put their Los Osos slips in a stack and divide up the time depending on the number of slips. To ask people to raise their hands can be confusing and if the speakers are outside of the room, naturally they wouldn't be able to raise their hands because they wouldn't know the opportunity was there.

In summary, Gibson could have handled public comment a lot better. Legally, she had the right to speak but Gibson dealt with the matter inappropriately given that he had several options on hand to deal with the matter professionally. Taking the necessary precautions earlier would have saved him a lot of trouble, especially if he organized public comment better.; 7:58 PM, May 27, 2009
Shark Inlet said...: Aaron,

Do you think that Goldin deliberately did not request to speak on Los Osos issues when asked just so that way she could later attempt to speak to Los Osos issues after the board had moved onto other things?; 8:12 PM, May 27, 2009
Aaron Ochs - Managing Editor of The ROCK said...: That could be so. If that's what really happened, then the fault lies within Goldin.; 8:13 PM, May 27, 2009
Alon Perlman said...: Exactamundo,

You don't trust the president?
(inside joke, decades old); 8:28 PM, May 27, 2009

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

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